Full Name: David Meintjes

Position: CEO of Telviva

Main Activity of the Company: Cloud communication

Date and Place of Birth: June 21, 1961

Education: BCom, BCom (Hons) and MCom degrees in business management, all obtained from the old Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg – UJ)

First Job: Bank teller

Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked for Korbitec Holdings as its COO

Size of First Pay Packet: R247 a month

First Job with Present Group: MD, in 2009

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 125

Management Style: Consultative

Personal Best Achievement: Being named the Sportsperson of the Year at UJ in 1984

Professional Best Achievement: Putting my energy into the businesses I have been involved in

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife, Jenni

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Mendel Karpul – business entrepreneur extraordinaire

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Gaudi – inspirational and creative genius

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sanlam Group CE Ian Kirk

Philosophy of Life: You do what you believe you can do

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Making friends and keeping them

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Investing in international technology companies at the height of the hype in 1998. The meltdown was worse than Bitcoin last year

Hope for the Future: A fair, honest and just South Africa

Favourite Reading: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

Favourite TV Programme: Series – Velvet

Favourite Food/Drink: Lamb curry/Raats Chenin Blanc

Favourite Music: Wonderful Life, by Thabo Mdluli, and What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong

Favourite Sport: Water polo

Favourite Website: Wall Street Journal

Hobbies: Playing golf, mountain biking, reading

Car: Land Rover

Pets: Our neighbours’ cat

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and selfish people

Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths

Favourite Foreign Company: Toyota

Married: To Jenni Meintjes

Children: Ilan, Ben and Jannike

Clubs: Golf, water polo